Page 42 of Love Without Demands

“They’d have to be stupid not to hire my big brother.”

It turns out Quinnie wasn’t far from the truth. I make it through the first interview with a guy named Tony, and it goes really well. The next day, I’m invited back for an interview with the big man himself, Auburn Bouvier.

Walking into his office, I watch him intently. Does he know about me? Or am I a dirty little secret that’s never spoken of?

When I see no flash of recognition on his face, I don’t know if I’m relieved or disappointed. During the interview, I find him intelligent and a bit serious. He’s not friendly, but he’s not a dick either. He’s just… straightforward.

I have to force myself to focus because the entire time we’re talking, one question keeps popping into my mind. “Are you my brother?”

“Do you have any questions for me?” he asks when we’re nearing the end.

“I was wondering about weekends. As you saw on my resume, I’ve done police work, and I’d like to apply to be a reserve officer on the force.”

He sits back in his chair and crosses an ankle over his other knee as he flips through my paperwork with one hand. “I think that would be fine. I’ll mostly need you for workdays. Occasionally for weekends if I have an event to attend, but I can give you advance notice.”

“That sounds good.”

He puffs out a sigh that makes him sound older than his thirty-seven years. “For some reason, the damn press finds me interesting, so I like to have a driver that can also serve as security. Your background is very impressive and exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

When he stands, I do too, and we shake hands. The unspoken question runs through my head again.Are you my brother?

Two days later, I’m offered the position. The first thing I do is call Mama to talk with her about it. I tell her the job is security for a corporate bigwig, the pay is excellent, and housing is included.

She assures me she will be okay and is actually excited that I’ll be near Quinnie and Noelle. She worries about my sister living in the big city since her husband, Flynn, works such long hours at the hospital.

Thank god my mother isn’t a clinger. She’s always said that she never wants to keep her little birds cooped up in her nest. She wants us all to fly.

So I take a chance and accept the job with the man I’m pretty sure is my brother.

Only a few weeks into my training, I’m working solo when Bouvier calls me on the phone. “Cruz, I’m meeting with my father in my office today. I need you to go pick him up and bring him here. Tony has the address.”

“Yes, sir,” I say as my heart tries to pump out of my chest. This is it. I wasn’t sure it would ever happen, but I’m finally going to meet Paul Bouvier.

I find the address after making only one wrong turn and pull up to the security gate. They check my credentials and allow me to pass through. The house is like a damn palace, and I steel myself as I pull into the circular driveway.

Getting out of the car, I leave it running as I round the back. Before I can approach the house, the front door opens, and I instantly recognize the man who exits. My feet forget how to work, stopping my body near the back door of the Bentley.

Paul has a smile on his face as he walks down the steps in a perfectly tailored light-gray suit. Then he meets my eyes.

I can see instantly the way his face changes. It’s teeming with shock but he doesn’t look angry. He takes another two steps and stops a few feet away from me, his eyes never leaving mine.

A lump rises in my throat, and I swallow it down. “Do you know who I am?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yes, Cruz. I know who you are.”

Christ. He recognizes me. Is this really happening? Wetting my lips, I ask the question that’s been burning through me since I first found those letters.

“Are you my father?”

A tentative smile pulls the corners of his lips upward, and he nods once again as his eyes shine with unshed tears.

“Yes. I am.”

Tonight’s dinner was going well. Paul brought up the idea of talking to Auburn and Monty again, but he dropped it when I said I wasn’t ready. It was one of the things I admired about him. He never pressured me. Plus, I think we both enjoyed our secret dinners together, just talking and learning about each other.

“Is something bothering you?” he asked in that intuitive way he had.

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